MARCH 2005

The Hunger Project Bangladesh leads 2005 International Women's Day: Make the family the first step to protect women's rights

By Erin, The Hunger Project-Bangladesh

Not just in the Asian countries, but also in many developed nations of the world, women are deprived. Their economic and social status are far below men's. Movement and mobilization among the women - in order to improve their status in all the spheres of life - are the key agenda for protecting women rights in the world. The Girl Child Advocacy Forum in Bangladesh is focused on protecting women's rights and doing many works in the country. Celebration of National Girl Child Day on 30^th September and International Women Day on 8^th March are very important accomplishments of Girl Child Advocacy Forum. The forum, like other years, celebrated this year's International Women Day with high enthusiasm, promise and spirit. This year’s IWD theme, selected by the forum, was “family: make it the first step for protecting women rights”.

On the occasion of the day, the forum, led by The Hunger Project, arranged a Greeting Program to the winners of the Rokeya Award, 2004. The program went from 10:00AM - 12:30pm and was held at Gabtala of Ramna Park in Dhaka. The forum handed over Crest of Honor to Dr. Dilara Choudhury, Department of Government and Politics, Jahangirnagar University and Begum Husna Banu Khanom, Ex-Principal of the Home Economics College, Dhaka. Both of them are respected women activists and have made a great contribution to women's rights in the country. They were the chief guests of the program.

Prof. Halima Khatun of Dhaka University was the special guest while Prof. Dr. Meher-e-Khoda presided over the function. Rafiqul Islam Sarker moderated the program, with representatives of various forum members assisting him in the successful completion of the event.

About 24 organizations and hundreds of Hunger Project animators from Dhaka, Narayanganj and Barogram attended the program. Forum members gave brief speeches on the occasion. Some forum representatives sang songs and recited poems as part of the program. About 700 people from all corner of the society attended the greeting program.

Dr. Dilara Choudhury, in her speech acknowledged the theme of IWD. She emphasized the family’s role to protect women's rights. Family can be the key to eliminate violations against women, to remove the disparity and deprivations against them, she added. She called upon everyone to work for the women and for their well being. But she reminded that, women should come forward primarily for protecting and achieving their rights.

Begum Husna Banu Khanom, shared her memorial past and struggle as a women in her life. She put emphasis also on the role of family to celebrate a girl child, considering herself as human being, as a competent, committed and productive person. She gave thanks to the forum for arranging such a program honoring women.

President Prof. Halima Khatun pointed out the grievance experience and status of women in the family. She urged parents to behave well towards their girl children so that their mindset and their attitude is developed as a human being and they can compete like boys in every spheres of life.

On behalf of The Hunger Project, the Girl Child Advocacy Forum celebrated IWD in about 350 places. We are still getting reports from different parts of the country about the IWD celebrations. Rallies, quiz and essay competitions, debate competitions, art competitions and mother gathering were the notable programs all around the country on the occasion of IWD 2005.

At the afternoon, there was a huge rally of males declaring ‘no acid to women’. Thousands of participants from all corner of the society attended the rally. The rally started from the Central Shahid Minar and ended at the National Press Club in Dhaka. Veterans, writers, media and sports icons declared their ‘togetherness’ and solidarity with this theme. The Hunger Project was an organizing partner of the rally. There were also some printing and electronic media partners of the program. It obviously has created a surge on the anti-acid throwing movement of the country.